Save this page. It works with no signal.
Emergency and safety
000 Police · Fire · Ambulance Free from any phone. 112 also works from a mobile. 106 is the text relay.Get the free Emergency+ app now. It shows where you are, and you can call 000 from it.
Bitten or stung?
Snake bite Call 000 Snake in the house Do not go near it Spider bite Funnel-web or redback? Tick Do not pull it Bee, wasp, ant Allergy risk Allergic reaction Adrenaline, 000 Bandage steps Snakes, funnel-web Poisons Information Centre 13 11 26, any time. Call 000 first for a bite.
At the beach or in the water?
Rip current How to get out Box jellyfish Tropical north Bluebottle, stonefish Hot water Blue-ringed octopus Call 000 Crocodile Northern waters Shark Where to swim
Numbers to keep
- Emergency text relay For deaf or speech-impaired callers (TTY) 106
- Police Assistance Line Police, when it is not an emergency 131 444
- SES — storm and flood Storm and flood help. Life threat is 000. 132 500
- Poisons Information Centre Swallowed or stung? Call 000 first for a bite. 13 11 26
- healthdirect Free nurse advice, 24 hours 1800 022 222
- Lifeline Crisis support and suicide prevention 13 11 14
Support lines
Free, confidential, and open to anyone in Australia whatever their visa.
- Beyond Blue Mental health support, 24 hours 1300 22 4636
- 13YARN Crisis support from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander counsellors 13 92 76
- 1800RESPECT Domestic, family and sexual violence 1800 737 732
- Kids Helpline Counselling for ages 5 to 25 1800 55 1800
- MensLine Australia Support for men, 24 hours 1300 78 99 78
- Translating & Interpreting Service Free interpreter, 150+ languages 131 450
Health advice lines and ambulance cost, by state
An ambulance is not free in most of Australia, and Medicare does not cover it. A single trip commonly costs $500 to $1,800. For advice at 2am when it is not an emergency, call a nurse before you call an ambulance.
If you are not covered by Medicare, you may be charged for hospital care. In NSW, urgent treatment is not delayed while that is sorted out. Other states set their own rules, so check your state page.
SourceNSW Health — charging arrangements for hospitals (PD2022_024)
| Where | Line | Number | Ambulance is… |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT | healthdirect | 1800 022 222 | Not free. You get a bill. |
| NSW | healthdirect | 1800 022 222 | Not free. You get a bill. |
| NT | healthdirect | 1800 022 222 | Not free. You get a bill. |
| Queensland | 13 HEALTH | 13 43 25 84 | Free for Queensland residents, anywhere in Australia. |
| South Australia | healthdirect | 1800 022 222 | Not free. You get a bill unless you have cover. |
| Tasmania | healthdirect | 1800 022 222 | Free for Tasmanian residents, within Tasmania. |
| Victoria | NURSE-ON-CALL | 1300 60 60 24 | Not free — but membership is cheap and covers you Australia-wide. |
| WA | healthdirect | 1800 022 222 | Not free for most people. You get a bill. |